Grotto Falls in the Smokies can be found on the Trillium Gap Trail and is the only waterfall hike in the Smoky Mountains where the trail actually goes behind the waterfall. An 8-mile round-trip hike on the infamous Appalachian Trail with some of the best views in the park at Charlies Bunion. Hailed for their biodiversity, scenic lookouts, and Southern charm, the Smokies belong on every adventurer’s national park bucket list. Logan Mahan. Below you'll find a list of some of the best hikes within the park and a dash of information and highlights to help you plan your Smoky Mountain adventures. The 10 Best Hikes in the Smokies A late hike to Mt. Check out some of our favorite hikes in the park and start making plans to see them for yourself. Appalachian Trail: Newfound Gap to Charlies Bunion. A number of different paths access the third-highest peak in the Great Smokies, and one of the all-around best is the Trillium Gap Trail. Relatively unknown, Spruce Flat Falls is a favorite among locals who want a quieter experience in the Smokies but may not have the time to … One of the most popular day-hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the unpaved Alum Cave Trail offers options for every type of hiker. The hike to Grotto Falls is 2.6 miles round trip and is rated easy.
Families with kids can pack drinking water and hike in 2.3 miles through old-growth forests to the Alum Cave Bluffs, where you can sit under the overhang and enjoy views of the mountains before heading back. Cammerer in the Great Smoky Mountains. After this, hikers will be rewarded with one of the best waterfalls visible in the Smokies without needing to pack a lunch. "The Alum Cave trail is basically a 2 part trail: The first half, a milder 2.3 mile hike to the Alum Cave overhang; and the 2nd part a strenuous continuation, of the remaining 3.2 miles to the summit of Mt LeConte." 1.